I hadn’t seen No
Escape since it came out and expectations were very low going in because no
one ever talks about it and I was skeptical of how hacky the concept was going
to come off. But it turns out I started
diggin’ it almost immediately. After
some initial cheap B sci-fi movie sets and effects depicting what the dystopian
future of 2022 will be like (your usual dust storms, giant floating holographic
heads and metallic boxy trains whizzing around on a single rail track) things
really start to pick up. The first half
hour is nonstop with Robbins (Ray Liotta (Hannibal))
defying evil warden Michael Lerner (Radioland
Murders) and then getting shipped off to the remote atoll to fend for
himself. When he arrives he’s faced with
the two opposing gangs that have their own little territory. Marek (Stuart Wilson (Lethal Weapon 3)) is the leader of the ruthless barbaric gang and the
Father (Lance Henriksen (Dog Day
Afternoon)) is the leader of the good forget-the-past-let’s-start-over
gang. Robbins doesn’t want to have
anything to do with either side, he just wants off the damn island.
The action is alright, not great. There aren’t any badass “holy shit” kinda
moments but Liotta is convincing as a mystery man with a military background
that can break your neck in an instant if he chooses. There’s a psychotic and even suicidal edge to
Robbins that makes the performance and the movie as a whole go down
easier. I would totally watch another
installment with this stoic character who doesn’t say much and lets his actions
speak for themselves.
The non-action stuff is surprisingly strong though. Henriksen is a gem as always in this
nurturing mentor role. The wisdom and
humanity the Father is trying to infuse into his community of cons is genuinely
inspiring. The speech he gives during a
funeral for his fallen comrades after a devastating night raid by Marek is
particularly beautiful.
Speaking of Marek I want to like this guy but he makes it
difficult. He’s just a little too
lame. Stuart Wilson’s a cool actor but
he plays the character all sophisticated by using haughty language, sporting a
well groomed beard (although with long semi-dreaded hair) and smiles a helluva
lot showing off those perfect white teeth.
In order to make this villain appear edgier they gave him these pins
that go through the bridge of his nose and dressed him in black junky battle
armor. The attempt to make him blend
more with his crazed followers, who have sharpened teeth or are covered from
head to toe in black mud, doesn’t work. The
filmmakers clearly didn’t know what they wanted and they ended up with an unsuccessful
clash of ideas. Although admittedly it’s
sort of interesting to see this cultured brute type tried out because it’s hard
to tell on paper if that would come together.
Perhaps in the right instance it still can but this film provides
unconvincing evidence. Oh well.
This was directed by Martin Campbell and he’s a bit
underrated in my opinion. Sure he made
the notoriously terrible Green Lantern
but he also did what are considered to be the two best James Bond movies ever
made, GoldenEye and Casino Royale. And that’s fine (not really a big Bond fan)
but the one piece of his that stands out for me is The Mask of Zorro. It’s such
a kickass action adventure extravaganza and if you haven’t seen it in a while
you should seriously consider re-upping.
And with all this under his belt and more (Vertical Limit, Edge of Darkness) he’s rarely brought up. That’s weird to me.
On No Escape
Campbell turns in a solid effort. He may
not have a discernable style (perhaps a reason why no one discuses him) but he
does know how to handle his action/character development balance. And if he has a trademark it’s that he
manages to make what you’re watching feel important. I wanted to see Robbins succeed and for the
word to get out about the unthinkable shit that’s going on in the prison and on
the island. The world needs to know!
So this picture is pretty fun in my opinion. There’s plenty to like here and even the shit
that doesn’t work gives you a little something to think about.
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